Accounts Payable Lead

Corenza; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Corenza is a well-funded startup transforming healthy snacking with clean-label, gluten-free, and preservative-free products. The Accounts Payable function plays a critical role in ensuring timely vendor payments, accurate cost tracking, and strong controls across multiple business units.

The role leads a team of AP partners, drives SOP governance, and oversees month-end close, MIS, and audit readiness in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• 6–9 years of overall experience in Accounts Payable/Finance Operations, including 2–3 years leading a team, preferably in a high-growth FMCG or consumer startup.
• Detail-obsessed with clean processes and ability to bring structure without slowing the business.
• Transparent approach to numbers, intent, and vendor relations.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 4–5 AP Business Partners, ensuring end-to-end AP queries are resolved for stakeholders.
• Own AP SOPs, invoice processing, vendor governance, TDS/GST compliance, and payment matrices.
• Oversee end-to-end payment cycle, due-date tracking, approvals, and avoid duplicate payments.
• Own AP month-end close, accruals, variances, and MIS tagging with cost-center accuracy.
• Be primary contact for auditors and maintain strong internal controls over vendor master and payments.

Skills

AP processes

GST

TDS compliance

Month-end close

People management

SOPs

Excel

Tally ERP

SAP

Education

B.Com

M.Com

CA-Inter

MBA Finance

Tools

SAP

Tally ERP

Job description

A well-funded startup revolutionizing healthy snacking with a diverse range of clean-label, gluten-free, and preservative-free products. Focused on convenience and health, the company continues to set new benchmarks in the industry.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Management & Business Partnering

• Manage a team of 4–5 AP Business Partners, each acting as functional SPOC for specific business/operations teams.
• Ensure each team member is effectively resolving end-to-end AP queries for their aligned stakeholders — invoice booking, vendor reconciliation, payment status, discrepancy resolution.
• Set clear ownership, TATs, and quality standards; conduct regular 1:1s and performance reviews.
• Build bench strength and cross-train the team so business continuity isn't dependent on a single person per vertical.
• Drive cross-functional alignment with procurement, warehouse/ops, and business teams to reduce recurring invoice/payment disputes at the source.

2. SOP Governance & Process Compliance

• Own and continuously improve AP SOPs covering invoice processing, vendor master governance, PO/non-PO invoice workflows, TDS/GST compliance on vendor bills, and payment approval matrices.
• Ensure the team adheres to defined SOPs consistently — no ad-hoc exceptions without a proper approval trail.
• Drive periodic SOP audits/spot checks across all SPOCs to catch process drift early.
• Standardize documentation and process notes across the team so processes aren't person-dependent.

3. Invoice Processing & Payments Oversight

• Ensure timely and accurate invoice booking across all vendor categories (raw material, packaging, 3P/co-manufacturing, marketing, logistics, admin/opex).
• Oversee the payment cycle end-to-end: vendor due-date tracking, payment batch preparation, approvals, and release — ensuring no missed due dates or duplicate/erroneous payments.
• Monitor ageing of vendor payables and proactively flag/resolve overdue or blocked vendor accounts.
• Ensure proper three-way matching (PO–GRN–Invoice) discipline is followed by the team.
• Review and approve high value/exception payments before release.

4. Month-End Close & Expense MIS

• Own the AP month-end close calendar — ensure all accruals, provisions, and vendor invoice bookings are completed within the close timeline.
• Consolidate and review the expense MIS with accurate cost-center/department/SKU-level tagging as required.
• Ensure completeness of the books — no missed liabilities, correct cut-off, and accurate accrual reversals.
• Partner with the Business Finance/controllership team to explain variances in expense MIS vs. budget/forecast.
• Ensure ledger scrutiny (vendor/GL) is completed and signed off before books are closed each month.

5. Compliance, Audit & Controls

• Ensure GST input credit reconciliation, TDS compliance, and other statutory requirements are met on all vendor payments.
• Be the primary point of contact for internal and statutory auditors on all AP-related queries; ensure timely closure of audit observations.
• Maintain strong internal controls around vendor master creation/changes, payment approvals, and segregation of duties.
• Ensure documentation (approvals, contracts, debit/credit notes) is complete and retrievable for audit purposes.

Skills You Bring

• Strong hands-on knowledge of AP processes, invoice-to-pay cycle, and vendor accounting.
• Working knowledge of GST, TDS, and other statutory requirements applicable to vendor payments.
• Experience managing month-end close and building & reviewing expense MIS.
• Strong people management skills — proven experience leading teams of 4+ members.
• Process orientation with the ability to build and enforce SOPs across a team.
• Strong Excel skills and hands-on experience with Tally ERP are a must; working knowledge of SAP is an added advantage.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills — comfortable interfacing with business/ops leadership.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-transaction-volume FMCG/D2C environment.

Qualifications

• A finance professional (B.Com/M.Com/CA-Inter/MBA Finance or equivalent) with 6–9 years of overall experience in Accounts Payable/Finance Operations, including 2–3 years leading a team, preferably in a high-growth FMCG or consumer startup.
• Detail-obsessed, you love clean processes and bring structure to the team without slowing the business down.
• Most importantly, you believe in transparency — in numbers, in intent, and in how vendors and business partners should be treated.